A cruise ship outbreak of hantavirus has led to three suspected deaths on the Hondius, currently anchored off Cape Verde. The World Health Organization (WHO) is involved in the public health response.
As of early Tuesday, 149 people remain on board the Hondius. Two of them are in serious condition. Health officials have not confirmed how passengers contracted the virus.
The deceased include a 70-year-old man and a 69-year-old woman from the Netherlands. A German national also died, but the official cause of death has not been disclosed.
The Hondius left Argentina for the Canary Islands three weeks prior to this outbreak. The cruise ship was refused permission to dock in Cape Verde due to health concerns.
Key facts:
- Three passengers are suspected to have died from hantavirus.
- The WHO stated that the risk to the general public remains low.
- Health officials are conducting epidemiological investigations and contact tracing.
- A British national is in critical condition in an intensive care unit in Johannesburg.
Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge emphasized that hantavirus infections can be severe but are typically linked to environmental exposure from rodents. He reassured that there is no need for panic or travel restrictions.
Maria Van Kerkhove, an epidemiologist with WHO, stated, “We are working with authorities to understand the source of exposure through epidemiological investigations and doing contact tracing to identify any further cases.” The situation remains fluid as health officials monitor developments closely.